The test gave me information on everything from how much DNA I share with our Neanderthal ancestors, to how much caffeine I likely consume, to whether or not I might have a unibrow. It also let me know if I'm carrying certain genetic variations related to diseases that could be passed on to kids.

Then in April 2017, the FDA told 23andMe it could start providing genetic health risk reports, which reveal whether you have an increased risk of developing certain diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

A year later, the FDA gave 23andMe clearance to tell consumers about their risk of cancer — specifically about three BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations that are associated with an increased risk in breast and ovarian cancer. The test has genetic counselors and scientists concerned, because there are thousands of mutations associated with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and this test only screens for three of them most commonly found in Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish descent.

The version of the test that includes the health reports costs $199, while the ancestry test alone is $99. Here's what it was like:

1/

I first received my 23andMe test in 2015. Because I had already submitted my sample, I didn't have to repeat the process to get my genetic health risks reports in 2017 or my BRCA results in 2018.

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

2/

That meant I didn't have to re-submit a sample of my saliva, which was convenient. Spitting into the tube had taken me about 5 minutes the first time around.

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

3/

Before I shipped my spit, I registered online. I also got to decide if I wanted to have my DNA used to research treatments for diseases. In the spirit of science, I decided to consent and sign the form.

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

4/

When I got my original report in 2015, I had 62 reports waiting for me based on my 23 pairs of chromosomes from mom and dad. The reports covered everything from family history to physical traits and genetic variants related to diseases that I could pass down to my kids.

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

5/

When I logged into my 23andMe account in 2018, I was surprised to see that the number had increased to 81 (this is including the genetic health risk tests I opted into).

23andMe

The new reports are only available to 23andme customers who had tests done on the company's newest genotyping chip. That's the vast majority of customers who were tested by late November 2013, according to a 23andme spokesman.

6/

Of course, I still had the basics, such as my ancestry breakdown. This time, my results were even more specific, breaking down my Scandinavian ancestry into my Norwegian heritage specifically.

Notably, there were more wellness reports available than the last time I checked. In 2015, I spent time investigating my muscle composition, which told me I wasn't a sprinter.

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

8/

Now, however, there were reports about my sleeping and eating habits. When it came to the genetics behind my weight, my results weren't entirely unexpected — I had gotten the same results from another DNA test I took.

Back when I first took the test, the most controversial part was the carrier-status test, which tells me if I carry a specific variant that could be passed down to my children, resulting in a genetic disease. These were the tests the FDA needed to approve. 23andMe was very thorough in their presentation here, making it clear that the tests couldn't be used to inform my own health.

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

10/

But in 2017, I had access to my genetic health risks, which could tell me if I personally had an increased risk of getting certain diseases, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. My heart pounding, I clicked on a link that took me to the reports. Not everyone has to get the test. If you're not ready, you can select "ask me again later," and if you really never want to see the results, you can opt out entirely.

23andMe

11/

You can also choose to opt out of just the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's reports. Because the two neurodegenerative diseases have few treatments, getting the report could cause more anxiety than necessary.

In both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, age is a bigger risk factor than genetics. For Parkinson's, if I had a varaint related to the disease, my risk of getting the disease would certainly be increased, but not by much.

Keith Fargo, the Alzheimer's Association director of scientific programs and outreach, told Business Insider in 2017 that the Alzheimer's report, which would tell me if I had a mutation on my APOE gene, was more useful in the context of research than it was for predicting who might get the disease. And as I mentioned, I had allowed 23andMe to use my DNA for research purposes, so it was already getting put to use.

I also kept in mind that I have a family history of one of these diseases. If I decide to view my results, I will plan on speaking with a genetic counselor before proceeding.

Another factor I kept in mind was life insurance, something 23andMe's report brings up as well. While genetic testing can't prevent you from getting health insurance, life insurance policies can use the information to deny your application. Since my results won't be changing, I decided it would make the most sense to wait to get the results until I get life insurance. As long as I don't know, there shouldn't be a way for life insurers to find out.

12/

Had I decided to see my results, 23andMe would have asked if I was sure one more time. This would have spelled out what exactly the risk window would be. If I had the highest risk, I'd have a 60% chance of developing Alzheimer's by 85. Right now, roughly one-third of people over 85 have Alzheimer's.

23andMe

13/

Had I chosen to see my Alzheimer's results, they might look like this.

23andMe

14/

When I logged back in in 2018, I saw that there were now three health reports to choose from. Because I had fairly good reason to believe that I wouldn't have one of the three variants, I decided it wouldn't be a big deal to click through and see my results for that test.

23andMe

15/

When I spoke with a genetic counselor about this, she told me her bigger concern is that if someone of Scandinavian descent (like me) tested negative but did have a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, they might not fully understand that they still could have a mutation, just not in the three tested. So I paid close attention to a paragraph explaining that the results of the report didn't mean my risk of cancer is reduced.

Cancer is a complex condition, and it can be caused by a number of factors — genetics being just one part of that. Should I have a mutation on BRCA1/2 (identified by this test or elsewhere), the presence of a mutation doesn't necessarily mean I have cancer, just that the chances are higher. For example, in the US, the average woman has a 7% of chance of getting breast cancer by age 70. That escalates to a 50% if the woman has a mutation to her BRCA 1/2 genes. As part of my BRCA tutorial, 23andMe explained how different factors increase cancer risk.

Further down the page on my BRCA results, there are resources for how to communicate the information to family members, physicians, and how to get in touch with a genetic counselor.

Afterward, I checked out my other genetic health risk reports. My results for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and celiac disease showed up on the same page as my BRCA results. On this page, I could also revisit whether I wanted to see my Parkinson's and Alzheimer's results.

23andMe

19/

The takeaway: It was fascinating to pop back into my account and see new reports. I feel grateful that I don't have to see my Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease results, but I can still choose to check out my BRCA results — albeit with the big caveat that they're likely to be negative anyway. Either way, it was fun to check in on my Neanderthal results.